The Point: The impeachment trial is basically over

View this email in your browser   January 31, 2020  | by Lauren Dezenski, Chris Cillizza and Allison Gordon The impeachment trial is basically over The Senate's impeachment trial is careening toward its inevitable end, even if the timing on that end isn't yet clear.   The Senate voted 51-49 against calling witnesses on Friday evening, with two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah, joining Democrats to back extending the trial.  Questions around whether witnesses would be called had been essentially answered late Thursday night by Sen. Lamar Alexander. Alexander, a Tennessee Republican not seeking reelection, was the potential fourth Republican who might have voted with Democrats in support of witnesses. Those other three were Collins, Romney and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. But after day two of Q&A's with the House impeachment managers and President Donald Trump's legal team, Alexander reached his conclusion:  "{T}here is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution's high bar for an impeachable offense. ... The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did. I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday." Translation: No witnesses. That opened the door for others to come out against witnesses as well, and Murkowski came out against them earlier Friday. That all but ensured the vote would fail.    Yet timing for the final step of the trial, the actual acquittal, is still up in the air. Friday afternoon saw wrangling over whether senators could deliver floor statements before the vote itself, potentially extending the trial into next week. That complicates things, considering next week's calendar: the Iowa caucuses on Monday and the President's State of the Union address on Tuesday.   The Point: The impeachment trial has nearly reached its predictable end, yet we can't quite predict when that end will come.  -- Lauren    And now, the week in 19 headlines:   Monday, January 27 Senate impeachment trial: Trump's defense soldiers past Bolton revelations Trump spiritual adviser says prayer asking for termination of 'all satanic pregnancies' was taken out of context US advises citizens to reconsider travel to China after coronavirus outbreak  Tuesday, January 28 House Democrats not invited to trade deal bill signing at White House GOP senator says they've 'got to be able to see' Bolton manuscript before witness vote Kushner defends Trump's Middle East plan after Palestinian rejection Poll: 75% of voters want witnesses for Senate impeachment trial Wednesday, January 29 White House has issued formal threat to Bolton to keep him from publishing book  Trump's attacks against Bolton highlight past attempts to influence witnesses Alan Dershowitz argues presidential quid pro quos aimed at reelection are not impeachable GOP senator up for reelection says he doesn't want witnesses in impeachment trial Thursday, January 30 House approves pair of measures reining in Trump's military action against Iran All eyes on Alexander during impeachment votes Woman who has accused Trump of sexual assault is seeking his DNA More US service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries following Iran strike  Dershowitz distances himself from impeachment argument he made on Senate floor Friday, January 31 Attacks in Afghanistan spike as US weighs troop drawdown John Delaney drops out of Democratic presidential race Suspects arrested after SUV breaches Mar-a-Lago security QUOTE OF THE DAY "They want to kill our cows. That means you're next." -- President Trump during a campaign rally in Des Moines on Thursday. IMPEACHMENT LATEST What's happening today? The Senate voted 51-49 to block any witnesses from being called. That marks the beginning of the end of the trial.    Two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah, joined Democrats to back extending the trial.   What's coming next? The final vote to acquit President Donald Trump. It will likely be next week.    Follow our live special coverage on CNN and CNN.com. CHRIS' GOOD READS Why Iowa?   Stacey Abrams thinks she will be president in 20 years   A deep dive into Elizabeth Warren's Iowa strategy (and whether it was a mistake)   How to think about Kobe's complicated legacy   The feral pig problem   The end of "Homeland"   What "The Good Place" meant MUSICAL INTERLUDE The new Drive-By Truckers album -- "The Unraveling" -- is a deeply political reflection on life in America under President Donald Trump.     Today's episode: The final weekend in Iowa LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL SCHEDULER     Coming over the next week: The Iowa caucuses are on Monday! Most -- but not all -- 2020 contenders will be camped out in the state this weekend, with special "get out the caucus" events. Others, like Tulsi Gabbard, Michael Bennet and Deval Patrick, will spend the weekend in New Hampshire with an eye on the coming primary.  Friday, January 31 Deval Patrick: Is on Day 2 of a six-day bus tour through New Hampshire Saturday, February 1 Bernie Sanders: Holds a "caucus concert" event with Vampire Weekend in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Pete Buttigieg: Throws "Get Out the Caucus" rallies throughout Iowa through election day Amy Klobuchar: Is back from Washington and crisscrossing Iowa with pre-caucus events Elizabeth Warren: Holds two Iowa rallies with Rep. Ayanna Pressley Sunday, February 2 Amy Klobuchar: Hosts a Super Bowl watch party in Johnston, Iowa. She'll speak at halftime. Monday, February 3 Iowa caucuses! Michael Bloomberg: Holds three organizing events in Super Tuesday state California  Michael Bennet: Finishes three days of town halls in New Hampshire Joe Biden: Wraps up his "Soul of the Nation" bus tour through Iowa Tuesday, February 4 Elizabeth Warren: Holds a town hall in Keene, New Hampshire, kicking off a three-day swing through the state Andrew Yang: Begins a six-day sprint through New Hampshire   ONE BIG FAREWELL Former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary race on Friday. He was the first Democrat to start running for 2020 -- way back in 2017. Here he is riding down the giant slide at the 2018 Iowa State Fair. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Unsubscribe from this list Check out other CNN Newsletters Share the Point Newsletter Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get The Point in your inbox. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. You can follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter and connect with The Point on: Our mailing address is: One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303 Copyright © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., All rights reserved.